Shock absorbing disconnect latch for ball bearing slides

Abstract

A shock absorbing disconnect latch comprises a lever, a wall for limiting travel of a longitudinal channel, and at least one vertical slot in a downwardly sloping body to enable rearward flexing of the disconnect latch for removal of the longitudinal channel. The flexing of the disconnect latch causes the lever to move counterclockwise providing space for the longitudinal channel to be disengaged. The flexing of the disconnect latch permits easy removal of the longitudinal channel, together with reliable return of the lever. When the longitudinal channel is stopped by the wall of the disconnect latch, the shock energy is absorbed using the slot by deflection of the disconnect latch.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A disconnect latch for a slide assembly, the slide assembly including at least one elongated channel, the disconnect latch comprising the unitarily formed combination of: means for locking and preventing unintentional disconnection of the channel; and   means for flexing the disconnect latch to clear the locking means such that the channel is released and for absorbing shock energy produced when the channel is stopped against the locking means.   
     
     
       2. The disconnect latch of claim 1 further including mounting means comprising a recess in the disconnect latch and channel and a fastener in the recess securing the channel to the disconnect latch. 
     
     
       3. The disconnect latch of claim 1 wherein the means for locking comprises a wall generally normal to the slide for blocking movement of a post on the channel. 
     
     
       4. The disconnect latch of claim 1 wherein the flexing means comprises at least one generally vertical slot. 
     
     
       5. The disconnect latch of claim 4 wherein the generally vertical slot is laterally compressible. 
     
     
       6. The disconnect latch of claim 4 wherein the generally vertical slot is laterally expandable. 
     
     
       7. The disconnect latch of claim 1 wherein the flexing means comprises two opposed, generally vertical spaced-apart slots. 
     
     
       8. The disconnect latch of claim 7 wherein the two generally vertical slots are spaced apart and in opposing directions, one of the slots facing upwardly and one facing downwardly. 
     
     
       9. The disconnect latch of claim 8 wherein the slot facing upwardly is expandable and the slot facing downwardly is compressible for the disconnect latch to clear the locking means and wherein the slot facing upwardly and the slot facing downwardly are compressible for absorbing shock energy. 
     
     
       10. A slide assembly comprising: at least one elongated slide member with a rail; and   a disconnect latch comprising (a) means for vertically flexing the disconnect latch such that the elongated slide member can be disengaged without pivoting the disconnect latch and (b) means for attaching the disconnect latch to the rail.   
     
     
       11. The slide assembly of claim 10 wherein the mounting means comprises a recess in the disconnect latch and slide member, and a rivet in the recess securing the latch to the slide member. 
     
     
       12. The slide assembly of claim 10 wherein the disconnect latch comprises the integrally formed combination of a downwardly moveable lever, a downwardly sloping wall rear of the lever, and a ring in a rear portion of the lever. 
     
     
       13. The slide assembly of claim 10 wherein the flexing means comprises at least one generally vertical slot in the latch, the slot being compressible to provide space for the slide member to clear a post on the slide member. 
     
     
       14. The slide assembly of claim 13 wherein the generally vertical slot is normal to a longitudinal axis of the downwardly sloping wall. 
     
     
       15. The slide assembly of claim 10 comprising first and second slide members, wherein the flexing means of the latch comprises two generally vertical slots in the latch, each having a mouth and a terminal. 
     
     
       16. The slide assembly of claim 15 wherein the two generally vertical slots are spaced-apart along a longitudinal axis of the downwardly sloping wall, and where the mouth of the slot is wider than the terminal. 
     
     
       17. The slide assembly of claim 15 wherein the two generally vertical slots are spaced apart and wherein one slot is upwardly facing and one slot is downwardly facing. 
     
     
       18. The slide assembly of claim 10 wherein the flexing means comprises a plurality of spaced-apart slots.